Man finds winning lottery ticket while cleaning car six weeks after purchase

A man couldn’t believe his luck when he happened upon a winning lottery ticket weeks after tossing it away.

Dion Davies had no idea that a lifechanging sum of money was sitting in the back of his car. Credit: National Lottery

Dion Davies had no idea that a life-changing sum of money was sitting in the back of his car.

The man from west Wales stumbled upon a winning lottery ticket six weeks after purchasing it while clearing out his vehicle for a professional valet.

Davies, 47, had purchased the multi lottery ticket just before Christmas but did not realise its worth until he began cleaning.

The valet instructed him to remove all his belongings to avoid throwing away anything valuable, and during the process, Davies found the lottery ticket in his sun visor.

“The guy asked me to take all of my belongings out before he started just in case he threw away something that was valuable! I’m glad he did. I found a multi lottery ticket in my sun visor that I had bought in December,” he said.

After taking it to a vendor, he was advised to call the number on the back, and he discovered that he had won £55,086 (A$97,000) after matching all five numbers plus one Lucky Star on Thursday 2 February.

The winning numbers were 1, 11, 17, 20, and 27, with Lucky Stars 4 and 5. Davies, an actor, said he purchases a lottery ticket every week, and all of his numbers are his family‘s birthdays.

Dion Davies had no idea that a lifechanging sum of money was sitting in the back of his car. Credit: National Lottery

The lucky discovery of the winning ticket came two weeks after it was officially announced as unclaimed by The National Lottery. Mr Davies was performing as a dame in a ‘Sleeping Beauty’ Pantomime in Milford Haven at the time.

Mr Davies, who was presented with his cheque for the winnings at The Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, explained how he went home to inform his wife, Ifana, and the two of them called The National Lottery to claim the prize.

“When the person at the Lottery said it was a winner, we all went, together with a neighbour, for some lunch together, which of course included some fizz,” he said.

Dion Davies had no idea that a lifechanging sum of money was sitting in the back of his car. Credit: National Lottery

The couple, along with their 15-year-old son, have already planned a trip to Italy and hope to visit San Diego with the winnings. The remaining amount will be saved for another “resting” period.

“Would I have left the ticket there if I had cleaned the car myself? Maybe, and I would have never claimed. As an actor you always have ‘rest’ periods, so the win has come in handy!” he said.